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Meet Our Wellness for Life Team

Guiding You on Your Journey to Health, Wellness & Vitality

Mary Strykowski – Wellness Coordinator. Mary holds a Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition from the Clayton School of Natural Health and a Bachelor of Science in Health Education/Exercise Science from the University of South Florida, with a minor in Communication. She also holds several national fitness certifications such as Personal Fitness Training and Group Class Instruction.

Mary won a six-month internship at the renowned resort spa, the Oaks at Ojai, in Ojai, California where only one intern is selected each semester to live and work on-site. Being immersed into spa living provided Mary with insight on how health spas can truly help motivate individuals to embrace a mind/body/spirit lifestyle. Mary teaches how eating whole, natural foods, drinking pure water, and physical activity can make a profound difference in creating and maintaining optimal health and vitality.

As Wellness Coordinator at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, Mary uses personal fitness training as a way to design fitness programs to meet a person’s individual needs. She also conducts private consultations in nutrition, total wellness, weight control, stress management, conscious aging and success coaching. Mary is passionate about helping motivate others on the road to health and we are thirilled to have her lead our wellness team!

Debra Love Smith – Debra developed a love of health and wellness at a young age through Yoga, dance and sports. She practiced massage therapy for many years, which provided her with extensive knowledge and understanding of the human body, how we move and our emotional and spiritual connection to our physical selves. She strongly believes all aspects of fitness, from aerobics to stretch, are important for a life of vitality. Find her teaching yoga, pilates, piyo/ yogalates, water fitness, aqua yoga, stretch, core and total body conditioning classes. Debra is a certified personal trainer, specializing in flexibility and range of motion training.

Penny Heffelfinger – Penny began her journey in the wellness/fitness industry in fitness and aquatics over 35 years ago in the Chicago area. Her areas of expertise include E-RYT 500 yoga instructor, aquatics instructor, fitness instructor & personal trainer. Through continued practice she strives to apply the principles of yoga to every type of class that she instructs. Namaste’

Lorena Ortiz – Lorena went from a successful educator to a lifestyle full of fitness. Diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder led her to a complete life change. Reducing stress, clean eating and enjoying life led her to where she is today. Lorena is a certified AEA, Aquatic Instructor, AFAA Group Exercise Instructor, RYT 500 Yoga Instructor. She participates in Crossfit 5 days a week, enjoys biking, Yoga, meditation the beach and reading non-fiction novels (can't take the historian out of her!). She is always improving her skills and knowledge by attending professional workshops and studies, and is currently preparing for the NASM personal trainer certificate.

John Soderman - John holds a degree in Exercise Science from Michigan State University and is certified by the NSCA. He specializes in sports-specific and functional movement training.

Lori Pickens – Lori is a certified group fitness instructor by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFFA), is certified in mat pilates, is a stages cycling instructor, certified by the International Sports Conditioning Association (ISCA) in YogaBall.